Robertson has no room for sentiment ahead of Tynecastle return

Caley Thistle manager John Robertson is leaving no room for sentiment ahead of his return to Tynecastle in tomorrow’s Betfred Cup tie against Hearts.

Robertson is the Jambos’ all-time leading goalscorer having netted 214 league goals for the Edinburgh club, while he also had a stint as manager and worked for the club in a commercial role prior to returning for a second spell as Inverness manager in 2017.

Despite his legendary status in Gorgie, Robertson is annoyed by any suggestion of split loyalties and insists he is as determined as ever to win at his former club’s expense.

Robertson said: “It annoys me that people keep bringing this up. I’m the Inverness manager and I want to take my team down there and win – it’s as simple and straightforward as that.

“It’s actually very disrespectful I think, the amount of people this week that have said my heart must be split because I’ve played all these years for Hearts and managed them. Not at all.

“My focus is totally 100% on Caley Thistle and nothing else. I don’t get that, where people disrespect me and disrespect the club by thinking I would be quite happy for Hearts to win. That’s not the case.

“My focus is quite simple, I want my team through to the next round. If that means eliminating Hearts in the process then so be it.

Inverness lead Group C by three points ahead of tomorrow’s encounter, with Hearts having been docked two points for fielding ineligible midfielder Andrew Irving in their 2-1 win over Cove Rangers.

Caley Jags need just a point to qualify for the second round, and Robertson insists his players should be full of confidence following three straight victories, adding: “It was a tough group, and Hearts are favourites, but we knew that going to Tynecastle on the last day we would probably need to get something.

“That’s still the same, it has not changed. We go there with a three-point advantage but we have to do the business.

“There’s no reason we should fear them, if we’re clinical at the top end of the pitch there’s no reason at all why we can’t get the result we want.”